Bright lights. Packed house. No margin for error. And once again, Riverside found a way. In a game that felt like postseason basketball in early February, the Vikings leaned on composure and shot-making to escape Old Forge with a hard-earned win.
Hazleton Area built an early lead, weathered a second quarter surge, and delivered in the closing moments to edge Wilkes Barre Area 44 to 43 in a tightly contested boys basketball battle. The Cougars made just enough plays down the stretch to survive a late push and secure the one point victory in front of the home crowd.
Rivalry night turned into a history lesson. Brayden Canavan reached 1,000 career points, Dunmore set the tone early, and the Bucks powered past Holy Cross with purpose and balance in Bucktown.
Crestwood controlled the game from the opening tip, using an 18 point first quarter and balanced scoring to pull away from Dallas in a 48 to 36 round robin win. Led by Jordan Andrews, Keira Dougherty, and Jackie Gallagher, the Comets combined defensive discipline with timely free throw shooting to close strong and carry momentum forward.
The first annual Peace, Love and Inclusion Game was about more than basketball as Forest City and the Chargerettes met in a rivalry matchup centered on unity and support for special education. With a packed gym and strong community presence, the Lady Foresters set the tone early while the night highlighted how sports can bring people together for a greater purpose.